The Moon without Stars by Chanel Miller

 

Luna begins this book as a solidly bookish seventh grader who spends most of her time with her best friend Scott. When circumstances lead Luna to recommending books and making personalized zines for her classmates, she becomes swept in to a popular group of kids. She stops spending time with Scott and participates in some "mean girl" activities until her new friends inevitably turn out not to be her friends. The strength of this book is in the details. The author perfectly captures the observations of middle schoolers and the way very small things can seem so big. Readers will appreciate the straightforward talk about periods and the lengths they go to to hide their menstrual supplies, but that's not the focus of the story. It's really about how even the best kids can grow and change and do things they wish they had never done. Because it is set in 7th grade and it contains a few edgy references, this might seem like a middle school book, but I think it will have the most appeal for 5th-6th graders (or even younger kids).    

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

This fantastic graphic novel combines the fantasy world of a Renaissance Faire with the sometimes harsh reality of middle school. Imogene has grown up among the actors at the Renaissance Faire, and she is now old enough to take on a real role for herself as a squire. At the same time, she is bravely choosing to go to school for the first time in her life (she's been home schooled by her mom). Chapters alternate between her life as a squire and her life in middle school, where she is befriended by some popular girls. She's constantly insecure, though, never sure if she's saying the right thing or wearing the right thing. She's also not doing her science homework and lying to her parents about it. This book is heartfelt and charming, and ultimately has a lot to say about how to recover from the mistakes that you make along the way. Highly recommended for middle schoolers (and younger kids as well).

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

On a modern-day school trip to Paris, Colette sees the ghost of Marie Antoinette. It takes her a while to realize that the long-dead queen is beheading modern day people, and that thanks to her family name, Colette may be next. Much of the plot revolves around Colette's horrible "mean girl" friends and  a couple of intriguing French boys. This escapist story was a fun read—I admit that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Recommended for readers who are fans of the Clique series or even fans of French history. Fun for 7th grade-up.